United want Sergio Busquets regen who has lit up the Bundesliga, but Real Madrid hold the cards – report

Manchester United have sent scouts far and wide as they look to secure the next emerging talent in the world of football. The Red Devils’ transfer strategy has taken a refreshing turn following the arrival of INEOS, who are now keen to recruit gifted youngsters before they reach their full potential. The approach has paid dividends in recent times, with the Premier League giants now home to some of the best young players in the game. The list includes Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, Patrick Dorgu, Diego Leon and Sekou Kone, with homegrown talents such as Kobbie Mainoo also in the mix. After focusing predominantly in attack last summer, United are preparing to upgrade their midfield this year, with a new defensive midfielder at the top of their priority list. Casemiro is set to leave at the end of his contract this summer, while Manuel Ugarte has not fully lived up to expectations at Old Trafford. The Brazilian has been indispensable for the Red Devils this season, and INEOS are keen to add a capable long-term successor to their ranks. It now appears that they have identified a suitable candidate from the Bundesliga for the role. United want Chema Andres According to TEAMtalk, United are impressed with VfB Stuttgart midfielder Chema Andres and have added him to their wish list. The report states: “Manchester United scouts have been impressed with Chema Andres, sources have told TEAMtalk, but the Red Devils’ co-owners, INEOS, will face a tough task in bringing the VfB Stuttgart midfielder to Old Trafford because of Real Madrid’s interest.” “We can reveal that scouts from Arsenal, Manchester City, Man Utd and Newcastle have all watched him and reported back very positively about the 20-year-old holding midfielder.” Andres has been a first-team regular for the Bundesliga club this season, registering two goals and two assists from 29 appearances in all competitions, 15 of which have been starts. The 20 year old’s ability to shield the backline, win back possession, dictate the tempo from midfield, and his efficient distribution have already seen him compared to the legendary Sergio Busquets and Manchester City’s Rodri. Chema Andres Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Bundesliga179112-866′ UEFA Europa League861-1-495′ DFB-Pokal30—-39′ Franz-Beckenbauer-Supercup (DFL-Supercup)10-1–3′ Total2915223-1,403′ Source: Transfermarkt. Andres rose through the ranks at Real Madrid before moving to the MHPArena last summer for a reported £2 million fee. However, Los Blancos retain a significant grip on the Spaniard’s future that could affect United’s plans. Real have buyback clause The report from TEAMtalk adds that Los Blancos have an affordable buy-back clause in Andres’ contract. It states: “Madrid have become well-versed in their method of selling young talents cheaply but maintaining a proactive veil around them – typically through a huge sell-on fee and, more importantly, a relatively low buy-back clause.” “In Chema’s case, the buy-back clause is just £10m (€11.4m, $13.5m) this summer, and TEAMtalk has been told that Madrid are contemplating bringing him back, as they have already decided to do with Como sensation Nico Paz.” The report goes on to state that the LaLiga giants could let the player move elsewhere this summer, but are likely to insert another affordable buy-back clause into any deal. That means that a move on Real Madrid’s terms could effectively be a loan deal, which may not please United. Final Thoughts United cannot afford to be held hostage by Los Blancos, given the abundance of talents available in the market. While Andres could be a fantastic addition to the Red Devils’ squad, they are likely to prefer someone who would be able to remain at Old Trafford for years without any contractual complications. Featured image Alex Grimm via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.